While she may be known for her devotion to revolutionizing the way women dress, Donna Karan is equally, if not more, devoted to her late husband Stephan Weiss. Her Urban Zen foundation emerged from the struggles Weiss encountered when stricken with fatal cancer. Since then, Karan has been on a mission to contribute to the world of charity. Tomorrow, Karan will unveil an exhibition of Weiss's sculptures, drawings, and paintings in his West Village studio—a space that Karan has transformed into the heart of her philanthropic endeavors. Titled "Connecting the Dots," the exhibition, which has an accompanying book by Assouline, is the first-ever public show of Weiss's art. He may be known for the big Apple sculpture in Hudson River Park (that is also the bottle shape for DKNY's Be

Delicious perfumes), but many of Weiss's paintings, mixed media, and bronze sculptures have never been seen by anyone outside his immediate family and friends. Here, Karan spoke with ELLE.com about her enduring connection to Weiss and the power of his works.

ELLE: Explain the title of the exhibition. Does the title have significance to you?

Donna Karan: First I didn't understand it; Stephan put dots on a piece of paper and whatever happened, happened. That's how his sculptures and art were created. But I think connecting the dots has a much larger reason, in life we connect our dots to family, business, the world. For me, by connecting the dots, you find a whole. Sometimes we're not aware of what that dot represents, but then one dot, one moment, leads to another.

ELLE: Why did you decide to stage the exhibition now?

DK: It's been 11 years since Stephan's passing, and it was time for me to be able to put my arms around it and celebrate Stephan as an artist. What I do at Urban Zen is completely tied to him and his work. He was a very subtle man—he never showed his art, it was for him and the family to enjoy. I felt it was time for the rest of the world to see it and truly understand the energy that he left behind.

ELLE: Was it important for you to host it in that space?

DK: The studio was his space—that's where everything was created. I've been on a journey for the last ten years, evolving the studio and creating it as a place to connect the dots.

ELLE: Do you feel his spirit in your own work?

DK: He's been my inspiration. When I met him, I never understood what he was talking about! But, now I appreciate him more than ever and see his legacy. Yes, I miss him, but I always feel he's around me. He won't leave me! But he's allowed me to take all the knowledge he's bestowed upon me and put into action.

ELLE: Did you inspire Stephan the way he did of you?

DK: Absolutely, it was a real partnership. We each had our own private little thing. We were definitely two creative, artistic people. He would say "my crazy wife" when we worked on things together—he had one point of view, I had another. We had our own thing, and our connection that was stronger than anything that I've ever had in my lifetime. I'm grateful for that.

ELLE: In your own words, describe Stephan's sculptures.

DK: Movement and space. They are constantly changing and evolving. He was fascinated by outer space and the universe. I think it shows in his art work, in his movement—the sensuality, flexibility from clouds in the stone and metal. The number one thing that people react to in his work is his concept of string theory and what was behind his mind. It's such a pleasure to see the totality of how Stephan thought.

ELLE: How do you see people interacting with the work?

DK: I'm opening the door now to the next dimension—to see the soul of the studio, the soul of an artist. It took me ten years to go on my path to find a place called home. I always felt that Stephan left to connect the dots. I hope that people see and love his work, and that will help support the foundation and realize Stephan's dream.

"Connecting the Dots" is open from October 18 to December 31 at the Stephan Weiss Studio, 711 Greenwich St. at Charles St. (212-414-8520, urbanzen.org).